This interview with Farley literally answers every software gremlin post on this site

[bp99]

But on the other hand, and this is where I get so frustrated, it should be so EASY to fix some of these issues. ... the car doesn’t always remote start to guest

This is stupid stuff. And it should be easy stuff to fix. Can you understand why that would be frustrating, even if relatively minor?

The remote start guest profile was fixed in newer cars last year. My '22 came with it working correctly despite being behind in OTA updates compared to my prior '21 that had the issue. It's likely in a module they can't (or won't) update OTA. Which is likely another of their software issues - third party modules that are getting shipped with newer firmware which cannot be OTA updated in older cars, creating an unknown number of permutations of what's in the field causing even more integration issues with OTAs. Some modules might have non flashable firmware. We know that many modules have their settings stored in the same image as the software (a byproduct of a past where updates are never expected to happen) and updates reset user settings. It's also possible the module that has that code is technically updateable, but contains settings Ford is very apprehensive of having reset on drivers (like PAAK keys, door codes, fob pairing).

The MME is very much a Frankenstein of past and future. To get to market, Ford used their typical OEM parts bucket from a past where cars shipped with firmware and rarely got updated (only when in the shop). Next to that, they decided to bolt on some newer things and promised continuous improvements like Tesla. Integrating multiple third party software stacks is about the most error prone process in software engineering - poor documentation, no control over interfaces, no control over which bugs get fixed. Especially when some of those stacks are moving targets on different cadences. The marketing team at Ford won. Hopefully the software team was competent enough to have put up a fight.

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[Hammered]

Idk if I trust their software “updates”. After the last couple updates (bases on the description they were old but somehow still needed) my sync screen fails to load about half the time. This means my backup cam doesn’t work. Sync will finally load after a min or so.

Your software could be well out of date. Even a fresh boot of sync the backup cam comes on regardless if the APIM is booted.

The worst decision on ford's part was copying the negatives of tesla in putting HVAC into the screen. I have no interest in any version of this. I want a button I can feel and manipulate without the touch alone screwing with it. In-fact I'd love for it to be codified that non-entertainment functionality of the car that will be used while in motion must be physical buttons. Rivian goes one further in the tard department putting vent directional controls in the menu. Fumbling around on a touch screen for basic controls should be illegal, and while they're at if they could delete half of all other laws, that'd be great. Less in this case is less. VW's cheap out on the ID4 window control is hilarious. 4 windows, and 2 levers with a caps lock like control to control if the window buttons control either the front, or the rear. Quite surprised they just didn't go with 1 lever and have the driver fumble some touch sensor to scroll through which window it controls.

 

[DevSecOps]

PaaK works though?

You aren't that new around here. You should be aware that there's 395 threads on this forum dedicated to PaaK not working. The current featured thread is about PaaK. If your key FOB only worked sporadically I'm sure you would be pissed.

Some people in this thread say "well if it doesn't work just use a FOB". Well, I have news for them. PaaK was listed as a feature of the car. It was listed as a way to operate the vehicle without a FOB. As a matter of fact, Ford even shipped the car for the first 18 months with only 1 FOB because PaaK was considered the second.

Yes, PaaK works for some people, some of the time. For other people it doesn't. Ford even released an update in October of 21 that erased the key pair for PaaK and left people stranded. Some of us have been dealing the PaaK issues for years. Some of us have even helped Ford diagnose and repair some of those issues. Many of those fixed issues have regressed.

So, this leads to my point in part, since the first page, that Ford sold us a vehicle with PaaK as a replacement to the FOB, it should work just as reliably as a FOB regardless if only 10% or 90% of owners want it to work. When Farley then says "well it's hard to make it work" after the fact, it's a slap in the face.

 

[Hammered]

The issue/s are phone dependent today. I've always considered it to be more of a gimmick feature as I prefer to have a backup fob foiled in the event something happens to the key. I keep several key ring clones of ~6 bare metal keys attached to a fob. I have 3 fords and 8 identical key rings. Depending on the vehicle, like a truck for instance, it may have more keys for trailers and associated things. For vehicle 'keys', like in marine, 2 is 1, 1 is none. Given your username, I take it you've had to rely on one of your contingencies, thus it's more of annoyance.

There are several easily reached hiding spots in vehicles to squirrel something away. Given your location in the DPRC, I'm assuming it's SOP for you. Not sure how you handle that place personally, I've never looked back.

 

[DevSecOps]

The issue/s are phone dependent today

While I agree that some are, that's not been the case many times with the MME over the years. It's been squarely on the car, the RFA modules and Fordpass.

Like I said, there's a featured post right now about more RFA module updates to address PaaK issues. Ford has struggled with PaaK.

 

[cvk71]

I’ve heard horror stories about the id.4 - particularly software. And the screens are tiny.

Sorry, I meant the BMW i4. I don't know the reliability, or lack there of, but I really enjoyed driving it.

 

[mkhuffman]

Does anyone here have a 2023? I had only read all good things and positive reviews when I ordered mine but this forum is freaking me out. At this point I love my 2023 Mach E, but I’m only one month in. I am semi-retired (with no walker or oxygen tank, btw), will only charge at home so do not need to worry about that larger charging network update, and figured out the trick to opening the hatch (with no help from the long thread on here about that). I registered here with the intent on learning more but I think maybe it’s just a place to post complaints?

In truth my Audi did some of the same “weird” things that my Mach E does, which frustrated the heck out of me. Now I’m thinking perhaps I just didn’t take the time to learn the nuances of it.

Go to any forum and you will see it is a place for complaints and problems. I have complained about PaaK in the past, and Todd makes a lot of good points about what was promised vs what was delivered. But I have seen similar posts about PaaK issues on the Rivian forum.

I have seen many serious issues reported in the Rivian forum. Rivian had to stop making the tonneau truck bed cover because it was failing so badly on so many trucks. We complain here about the MME bounce. There have been a ton of complaints about the ride quality in the R1S.

Forums are filled with complaints because it is a place for people to maybe get help. And many have been helped here, especially by Todd. Hang out and get to know the community. If you have a question about your car, it might already be answered in one of the many threads. If not, ask away! Most people here will try to help you.

Enjoy your car! I still love mine.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Go to any forum and you will see it is a place for complaints and problems.

I hear you and largely agree with you on this. However, it would be a missed opportunity if ford is not taking customer feedback seriously and acting on it. OEMs used to get feedback once a year (e.g., JD Power) and in an abbreviated, hardly useful format. Now they have troves of data and information in real time. I wish they would be more receptive to feedback and quicker to act on it.

I’d also say that it is unfortunate that some side so blindly with ford and twist themselves into a pretzel trying to justify its actions. If you really care about ford, you need to be receptive to criticism. Push your company to do better and don’t be defensive about its shortcomings. It’s the only way to stay relevant. Otherwise we will all be driving BYDs soon. No one wants that.

 

[kodiakng]

I hear you and largely agree with you on this. However, it would be a missed opportunity if ford is not taking customer feedback seriously and acting on it. OEMs used to get feedback once a year (e.g., JD Power) and in an abbreviated, hardly useful format. Now they have troves of data and information in real time. I wish they would be more receptive to feedback and quicker to act on it.

they also have an EA program that, judging by comments here, they aren't using very effectively either. free labor from interested volunteers would seem like a gold mine for a company really trying to make a dent in fixing their software issues.

 

[BigMach-E]

they also have an EA program that, judging by comments here, they aren't using very effectively either. free labor from interested volunteers would seem like a gold mine for a company really trying to make a dent in fixing their software issues.

You know, I hate to say this, but I think it’s true. I don’t think Ford as a whole are interested in fixing their current software issues with Sync 4. I think they are moving on to the next generation with a whole new software base, probably a lot more of the components designed and built in-house.

I think that Ford is looking at the current gen Mach-E as a dead end development wise post BlueCruise 1.2.

To be honest, I have questions that we will even see that for the majority of current gen MME pushed via OTA.

Maybe I am being pessimistic. I don’t see them actually fixing the 5 second power limitation issue if the GT/GTPE either, paid “upgrade” or not, I think this is just a dead end to them. Sad, really, the car didn’t match up to the hype, the marketing and the promise.

I don’t use PaaK, because at first I found it so unreliable, I never went back. I understand that people who wanted and expect to use it are upset.

My GTPE is a great daily, and I still enjoy it, but I wish it could been what was advertised.

 

[ThatGuyLando]

Reading through some of these comments I truly believe in 2030 we'll still be seeing people claiming that Ford is still new to evs and software and that things will get better soon. That is if Farley doesn't drive the company into the ground by then.

 

[Mirak]

You know, I hate to say this, but I think it’s true. I don’t think Ford as a whole are interested in fixing their current software issues with Sync 4. I think they are moving on to the next generation with a whole new software base, probably a lot more of the components designed and built in-house.

I think that Ford is looking at the current gen Mach-E as a dead end development wise post BlueCruise 1.2.

I agree with your suspicion that we are approaching the end of the runway for SYNC 4a, which is yet another reason why I’m frustrated these remaining niggling issues remain unresolved.

Ford will continue to try to monetize further enhancements - we’ll get BC1.2 and maybe other subscription items - but there is no money in trying to clean this stuff up.

 

[Mirak]

they also have an EA program that, judging by comments here, they aren't using very effectively either. free labor from interested volunteers would seem like a gold mine for a company really trying to make a dent in fixing their software issues.

Yeah, EA has been underwhelming. I think maybe I got one beta software release - not sure. It might be putting me toward the front of the cue for OTA updates - but not sure about that, either. I get occasional email surveys and I really put effort into answering them in detail, but the surveys are typically worded quite poorly. Ford often seems to not be asking the right questions.

 

[DYohn]

PAAK has worked with my iPhone X since the dealer set it up for me on the day I picked up the car. There have been a few issues come and go over the past two years mostly related to software resets and the like, but all I have to do is set it up again. So saying it doesn't work at all is bull****. Saying it doesn't work for some users is completely accurate, however, and from my observation it seems to be mostly phone-dependent. And by the way, even though PAAK works for me I still carry the FOB 90% of the time (and I purchased a second one for my wife before they were free) because we are old-skool in that way, and we don't always go out and about with our phones. YMMV.

 

[AlbaOH]

My GenZ daughter has a PAAK for her car and she always carries her fob - after a full day her phone is often dying and she doesn’t want to risk it.

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